Search

One of the central premises of the literature on financialisation is that we have been living in a new era of capitalism, characterised by a historical shift in the finance-production nexus. Finance has expanded to a disproportionate economic size and, more importantly, has divorced from productive economic pursuits. In this paper, we explore these claims of 'expansion' and 'divorce' based on a longue durée analysis of the link between finance and production in Senegal and Ghana. As such, we de-centre the dominant approach to financialisation. Seen from the South, we argue that although there has been expansion of financial motives and practices the 'divorce' between the financial and the productive economy cannot be considered a new empirical phenomenon having occurred during the last decades and even less an epochal shift of the capitalist system. The tendency for finance to neglect the needs of the domestic productive sector has been the structural operation of finance in many parts of the Global South over the last 150 years. Therefore, one cannot put forward a theory of the evolution of finance under capitalism without taking these crucial historical insights into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean grabbing occurs when traditional users, such as small-scale fishers, are pushed aside by new development activities. This grabbing must be prevented to avoid sea uses that maintain or increase social inequity. In this paper, we show that in tropical Atlantic countries, such as Brazil and Senegal, examples of ocean grabbing already occur. In this context, we analyse if Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) may be an opportunity to limit ocean grabbing or, to the contrary, poses a risk to increase it. MSP calls for an ecosystem approach that requires integrated coastal and marine management and involves stakeholders in developing a shared vision of the future, where society and environment are preserved. However, recent studies have shown that MSP is a process to be used cautiously to ensure equitable decisions. Meanwhile, the concept is spreading worldwide including in tropical Atlantic countries. We highlight that context matters and the specificities of the tropical Atlantic must be taken into account when deploying MSP processes. In the tropical Atlantic context, there is increased imbalances of stakeholder power, traps from decision support tools, and a need for adaptive management. These specific features must be addressed when deploying MSP in a way to avoid ocean grabbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although community case management of malaria increases access to life-saving care in isolated settings, it contends with many logistical challenges. Mobile phone health information technology may present an opportunity to address a number of these barriers. Methods: Using the wireless adaptation of the technology acceptance model, this study assessed availability, ease of use, usefulness, and job relevance of mobile phones by health workers in Saraya, Senegal. Results: This study conducted seven key informant interviews with government health workers, and three focus groups and 76 surveys with lay health workers. Principal findings included that mobile phones are already widely available and used, and that participants valued using phones to address training, stock management, programme reporting, and transportation challenges. Conclusions: By documenting widespread use of mobile phones and health worker perceptions of their most useful applications, this paper provides a framework for their integration into the community case management of malaria programme in Saraya, Senegal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senegal has long sought solutions to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). However, in a context dependent on international aid, the country faces multiple external pressures to choose policy instruments. In this commentary, we propose an analysis of this influence. The empirical material comes from our involvement in analysing health reforms for 20 years and from many interviews and observations. While studies have shown that community-based health insurance (CBHI) was not an appropriate solution for UHC, some international actors have influenced their continued application. Another global partner proposed an alternative (professional and departmental CBHI), which was counteracted and delayed. These issues of powers and influences of international and national consultants, established in a neo-liberal approach to health, have lost at least a decade from UHC in Senegal. The alternative now appears to be acquired and is scaling up at the country level, witnessing a change in the current policy paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trachoma is a disease of the eye and the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Years of repeated infections can cause in-turning of the lashes so that they rub against the eyeball, causing pain, discomfort and, if left untreated, blindness. This is known as trachomatous trichiasis (TT) and can be remedied by surgery. To improve oversight and reporting of TT outreach, Sightsavers developed a mobile phone application called the TT Tracker so that TT surgeons, assistants and supervisors can collect and analyse information about surgical outcomes and performance and determine when and where follow-up appointments are required. The TT Tracker is being used by seven national programmes. Examples of use and programme improvements from Nigeria, Benin and Senegal are discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmodium falciparum has a complex transmission cycle. Public health planning and research would benefit from the ability of a calibrated model to predict the epidemiologic characteristics of populations living in areas of malaria endemicity. This paper describes the application of Bayesian calibration to a malaria transmission model using longitudinal data gathered from 176 subjects in Ndiop, Senegal, from July 1, 1993, to July 31, 1994. The model was able to adequately predict P. falciparum parasitemia prevalence in the study population. Further insight into the dynamics of malaria in Ndiop was provided. During the dry season, the estimated fraction of nonimmune subjects goes down to 20% and then increases up to 80%. The model-predicted time-weighted average incidences contributed by nonimmune and immune individuals are 0.52 cases per day and 0.47 cases per day, respectively. The median times needed to acquire infection (conversion delay) for nonimmune and immune individuals are estimated at 39 days and 285 days, respectively. Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:760–70. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The measure of efficacy is optimally performed by randomized controlled trials. However, low specificity of the judgement criteria is known to bias toward lower estimation, while low sensitivity increases the required sample size. A common technique for ensuring good specificity without a drop in sensitivity is to use several diagnostic tests in parallel, with each of them being specific. This approach is similar to the more general situation of case-counting from multiple data sources, and this paper explores the application of the capture-recapture method for the analysis of the estimates of efficacy.Method: An illustration of this application is derived from a study on the efficacy of pertussis vaccines where the outcome was based on > or =21 days of cough confirmed by at least one of three criteria performed independently for each subject: bacteriology, serology, or epidemiological link. Log-linear methods were applied to these data considered as three sources of information.Results: The best model considered the three simple effects and an interaction term between bacteriology and epidemiological linkage. Among the 801 children experiencing > or =21 days of cough, it was estimated that 93 cases were missed, leading to a corrected total of 413 confirmed cases. The relative vaccine efficacy estimated from the same model was 1.50 (95% confidence interval: 1.24-1.82), similar to the crude estimate of 1.59 and confirming better protection afforded by one of the two vaccines.Conclusion: This method allows supporting analysis to interpret primary estimates of vaccine efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this paper is to describe sources of information on HIV/AIDS and their relationship with AIDS-related knowledge and sexual behaviour in a rural area of south Senegal.Methods: A cross-sectional study using a standardized questionnaire was administered in 1994 by local interviewers to 240 men and 242 women aged 15-59 years, randomly selected from the general population.Results: Sources of HIV/AIDS information most frequently cited were radio for men (61% of men) and the local health centre for women (52% of women). Among men, citing radio as a source of information was associated with an improved overall AIDS-related knowledge (a seven-questions based average score was 4.30 for men citing radio acquired information and 5.90 for men not citing radio acquired information; P < 10(-4)) and was associated with a smaller number of casual sexual partners in the 12 months preceding the interview (1.94 versus 1.48; P = 0.04). Women citing the local health centre as a source of HIV/AIDS information had a better perception of condom use and more often felt threatened by HIV/AIDS, but did not declare a significantly different number of casual sex partners in the 12 months preceding the interview. Television as a source was cited by 42% of men and 33% of women and was associated with an increased AIDS-knowledge score for men, with a smaller number of casual sex partners for women and with better perception of condoms for men.Conclusion: Because of its large spread and impact, radio appears to be an efficient way to reduce risk-taking behaviour among men. In addition, it is a very convenient way to reach people with high mobility such as male seasonal migrants. For women, attendance at health centres for maternity purposes is an opportunity to receive prevention messages. Finally, numerous men and women have had the opportunity to watch television when they are in towns during the migration period. This method seems to deliver effective messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fins of fishes provide many examples of structures that are beautifully designed to power and control movement in water; however, some species also use their fins for substrate-associated behaviors where interactions with solid surfaces are key. Here, we examine how the pectoral fins of ray-finned fish with these multifunctional behavioral demands, in water and on solid surfaces, are structured and function. We subdivide fins used in swimming and substrate contact into two general morphological categories, regionalized vs. generalized fins. Regionalized fins have ventral rays that are free from connecting membrane or in which that membrane is reduced. Dorsally they maintain a more typical membranous fin. While all pectoral fins vary somewhat in their morphology from leading to trailing edge, generalized fins do not have the substantial membrane loss between rays that is seen in regionalized fins and the distal edge anatomy changes gradually along its margin. We add a new case study in regionalized fins with the dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco). Hawkfishes are most often found perching and moving on structures in their environments. During perching, the free ventral rays are in contact with the substrate and splayed. We found that unlike other fish with regionalized pectoral fins, hawkfish maintain use of the dorsal membranous region of its pectoral fin for rhythmic swimming. We found that typically hawkfish bend their ventral free rays under, toward the medial hemitrichs or hold them straight during substrate-associated postures. This appears also to be the case for the ventral free rays of other species with regionalized fins. Generalized fin use for substrate contact was reviewed in round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus). In addition, although their lobe fins are not representative of ray-finned fish anatomy, we explored fin contact on submerged substrates in the Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus), which has a generalized distal fin (no free fin rays or distinct membrane regions). Both groups use their pectoral fins for swimming. During substrate-based postures, unlike hawkfish, their distal rays generally bend outward toward the lateral hemitrichs and a large swath of the fin membrane can contact the surface. The alternative demands on multifunctional fins suggest specialization of the mechanosensory system. We review mechanosensation related to fin movement and surface contact. These alternative regionalized and generalized strategies for serving aquatic and substrate-based functions underwater provide opportunities to further investigate specializations, including sensory structures and systems, that accompany the evolution of substrate-based behaviors in vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based health insurance (CBHI) has been implemented in many low- and middle-income countries to increase financial risk protection in populations without access to formal health insurance. While the design of such social programmes is fundamental to ensuring equitable access to care, little is known about the operational and structural factors influencing enrolment in CBHI schemes. In this study, we took advantage of newly established data monitoring requirements in Senegal to explore the association between the operational capacity and structure of CBHI schemes-also termed 'mutual health organizations' (MHO) in francophone countries-and their enrolment levels. The dataset comprised 12 waves of quarterly data over 2017-2019 and covered all 676 MHOs registered in the country. Primary analyses were conducted using dynamic panel data regression analysis. We found that higher operational capacity significantly predicted higher performance: enrolment was positively associated with the presence of a salaried manager at the MHO level (12% more total enrolees, 23% more poor members) and with stronger cooperation between MHOs and local health posts (for each additional contract signed, total enrolees and poor members increased by 7% and 5%, respectively). However, higher operational capacity was only modestly associated with higher sustainability proxied by the proportion of enrolees up to date with premium payment. We also found that structural factors were influential, with MHOs located within a health facility enrolling fewer poor members (-16%). Sensitivity analyses showed that these associations were robust. Our findings suggest that policies aimed at professionalizing and reinforcing the operational capacity of MHOs could accelerate the expansion of CBHI coverage, including in the most impoverished populations. However, they also suggest that increasing operational capacity alone may be insufficient to make CBHI schemes sustainable over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Senegal face a challenging socio-legal context, marked by homophobia and the illegality of homosexuality. In addition, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence among MSM is 27.6%, 46 times greater than the one in the general population (0.5%). Nevertheless, access to healthcare by MSM may be hampered by stigmatizing attitudes from health facility staff (medical and non-medical). This article describes the health facility staff/MSM relationship and analyses its effects on access to healthcare by MSM. The data used were collected through a field survey based on observations and qualitative interviews conducted in 2019 and 2020 with 16 MSM, 1 non-governmental organization (NGO) staff and 9 healthcare providers in Dakar (the capital city) and Mbour (secondary city on the West Coast) hospitals. The data were subject to a thematic analysis assisted by the ATLAS software. The relationship between MSM and healthcare providers is ambiguous. On the one hand, healthcare providers are torn between their professional duty to treat MSM and the cost of being stigmatized by other colleagues. Therefore, they often limit their empathy with MSM within the hospital context. On the other hand, MSM, trusting in the confidentiality of healthcare providers, feel safe in the care pathway. However, we identify the following stigmatizing factors limiting access to care include (1) fear of meeting a relative, (2) difficult relationships with non-medical support staff (mainly security guards), (3) HIV status disclosure and (4) potential conflicts with other MSM. This study is unique as it includes non-medical staff in its respondents. It shows that hospitals are divided into several areas, based on the stigma perceived by MSM. It is important to map out MSM's care trajectories and spaces and to identify all types of staff working within them, including non-medical staff, and enrol them in stigma reduction interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus that causes epizootics and epidemics among livestock population and humans. Our surveillance system has revealed multiple emergences and re-emergences of RVFV in West Africa over the last decade. Methods The Sentinel Syndromic Surveillance Network in Senegal (4S) has been implemented since 2011. Samples from human suspected arbovirus infection in 4S sentinel sites were sent to Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), where arbovirus diagnosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and virus isolation was performed. Overall, IPD has received a total of 1149 samples from arboviral suspected patients through the 4S network from January to December 2020. These samples were screened for 7 arboviruses including RVFV. Whole-genome sequencing of positive RVFV samples by RT-PCR was performed using the Illumina Miseq platform followed by genome assembly. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA X. Results Out of the 1149 arbovirus suspected cases, 4 RVFV-positive samples were detected with RT-PCR while 5 RVFV-positive samples were detected by ELISA. Complete genome sequences were obtained for 3 strains among the 4 positive samples by RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analyses indicated an emergence of a virus first described in South Africa during a major outbreak. Conclusions This strong surveillance system allowed the detection of an RVFV outbreak in Senegal in 2020. The obtained genomes clustered with strains from South Africa belonging to lineage H. This calls for implementation of a strong surveillance system for wild animals, humans, and livestock simultaneously in all African countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which assessed the pathogenicity of the fungus Aspergillus clavatus against the larval stages of several species of mosquitoes. It states that the locust of the species Oedaleus senegalensis used in the study were collected from plants that grows near the department of Animal Biology in Dakar, Senegal. It shows that A. clavatus fungi can cause disease against larvae of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and it can also serve as a tool in managing mosquito proliferation.

Genetic diversity of HIV-2 groups A and B has not yet been fully described, especially in a few Western Africa countries such as Ivory-Coast or Mali. We collected 444 pol , 152 vif , 129 env , and 74 LTR sequences from patients of the French ANRS CO5 HIV-2 cohort completed by 221 pol , 18 vif , 377 env , and 63 LTR unique sequences from public databases. We performed phylogenetic reconstructions and revealed two distinct lineages within HIV-2 group A, herein called A1 and A2, presenting non-negligible genetic distances and distinct geographic distributions as A1 is related to coastal Western African countries and A2 to inland Western countries. Estimated early diversification times for groups A and B in human populations were 1940 [95% higher probability densitiy: 1935–53] and 1961 [1952–70]. A1 experienced an early diversification in 1942 [1937–58] with two distinct early epidemics in Guinea-Bissau or Senegal, raising the possibility of group A emergence in those countries from an initial introduction from Ivory-Coast to Senegal, two former French colonies. Changes in effective population sizes over time revealed that A1 exponentially grew concomitantly to Guinea-Bissau independence war, but both A2 and B lineages experienced a latter growth, starting during the 80s economic crisis. This large HIV-2 genetic analysis provides the existence of two distinct subtypes within group A and new data about HIV-2 early spreading patterns and recent epidemiologic evolution for which data are scarce outside Guinea-Bissau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social desirability bias, which is the tendency to under-report socially undesirable health behaviours, significantly distorts information on sensitive behaviours that is gained from self-reports. As a result, self-reported condom use among high-risk populations is thought to be systematically over-reported, and it is impossible to identify the determinants of condom use. The main objective of the article is to elicit unbiased information on condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) using the double list experiment method to analyse the role of HIV infection and exposure to HIV prevention methods in condom use. More specifically, the difference in levels of condom use between HIV-positive and HIV-negative FSWs is estimated. In addition, the role of FSWs' registration and participation in a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstration project in condom use is considered. A list experiment was designed to elicit condom use information from 786 FSWs in Senegal who were surveyed in 2015 and 2017. Using the list experiment method, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (treatment or control) and were asked to report the number of statements they agreed with. Respondents assigned to the control group were presented with three non-sensitive items, whereas those allocated to the treatment group were presented with the same three statements plus the sensitive item (e.g. 'I used a condom during my last intercourse with a client'). Comparing the average number of sentences that were agreed with in both groups provides an estimation of the condom use rate in the treatment group and estimating such prevalence for several sub-groups allows the role of HIV infection risk in condom use to be identified. The percentage of FSWs using condoms in their last sexual intercourse with a client was 80% in 2015 and 78% in 2017, which was significantly lower than the 97% obtained in the face-to-face surveys in both waves. When estimating condom use among sub-groups with the list experiment method, we found that condom use among HIV-positive FSWs was only 34%, which was 47 percentage points lower than condom use among HIV-negative FSWs. We also found that registered FSWs are more likely to use condoms than clandestine FSWs. However, we did not find any difference in condom use between FSWs who were enrolled in the PrEP demonstration project and those who were not enrolled. Health policies should therefore aim to increase condom use among HIV-positive FSWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is recommended for children under 5 in the Sahel and sub-Sahel. The burden in older children may justify extending the age range, as has been done effectively in Senegal. We examine costs of door-to-door SMC delivery to children up to 10 years by community health workers (CHWs). We analysed incremental financial and economic costs at district level and below from a health service perspective. We examined project accounts and prospectively collected data from 405 CHWs, 46 health posts, and 4 district headquarters by introducing questionnaires in advance and completing them after each monthly implementation round. Affordability was explored by comparing financial costs of SMC to relevant existing health expenditure levels. Costs were disaggregated by administration month and by health service level. We used linear regression models to identify factors associated with cost variation between health posts. The financial cost to administer SMC to 180 000 children over one malaria season, reaching ∼93% of children with all three intended courses of SMC was $234 549 (constant 2010 USD) or $0.50 per monthly course administered. Excluding research-participation incentives, the financial cost was $0.32 per resident (all ages) in the catchment area, which is 1.2% of Senegal's general government expenditure on health per capita. Economic costs were 18.7% higher than financial costs at $278 922 or $0.59 per course administered and varied widely between health posts, from $0.38 to $2.74 per course administered. Substantial economies of scale across health posts were found, with the smallest health posts incurring highest average costs per monthly course administered. SMC for children up to 10 is likely to be affordable, particularly where it averts substantial curative care costs. Estimates of likely costs and cost-effectiveness of SMC in other contexts must account for variation in average costs across delivery months and health posts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Health Policy & Planning is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in Niakhar, a rural area of Senegal, is located 135 km east of Dakar. The HDSS was established in 1962 by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) of Senegal to face the shortcomings of the civil registration system and provide demographic indicators.Some 65 villages in the Niakhar area were followed annually by the HDSS from 1962–1969. The study zone was reduced to 8 villages from 1969–1983, and from then on the HDSS was extended to include 22 other villages, covering a total of 30 villages for a population estimated at 43 000 in January 2012. Thus, 8 villages in the Niakhar area have been under demographic surveillance for almost 50 years and 30 villages for 30 years.Vital events, migrations, marital changes, pregnancies, and immunizations are routinely recorded every 4 months. The HDSS data base also includes epidemiological, economic, and environmental information obtained from specific surveys. Data were collected through annual rounds from 1962 to 1987. The rounds became weekly from 1987–1997, followed by routine visits conducted every 3 months between 1997 and 2007 and every 4 months since then. The data collected in the HDSS are not open to access, but can be fairly shared under conditions of collaboration and endowment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virus-prokaryote interactions were investigated in four natural sites in Senegal (West Africa) covering a salinity gradient ranging from brackish (10‰) to near salt saturation (360‰). Both the viral and the prokaryote communities exhibited remarkable differences in their physiological, ecological and morphological traits along the gradient. Above 240‰ salinity, viral and prokaryotic abundance increased considerably with the emergence of (1) highly active square haloarchaea and of (2) viral particles with pleiomorphic morphologies (predominantly spindle, spherical and linear shaped). Viral life strategies also showed some salinity-driven dependence, switching from a prevalence of lytic to lysogenic modes of infection at the highest salinities. Interestingly, the fraction of lysogenized cells was positively correlated with the proportion of square cells. Overall, the extraordinary abundance of viruses in hypersaline systems (up to 6.8 × 10 virus-like particles per milliliter) appears to be partly explained by their high stability and specific ability to persist and proliferate in these apparently restrictive habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines a development initiative spearheaded by the members of a transnational diaspora – the creation of a medical hospital in the holy city of Touba in central Senegal. Although the construction of the hospital is decidedly a philanthropic project, Hôpital Matlaboul Fawzaini is better understood as part of the larger place-making project of the Muridiyya and the pursuit of symbolic capital by a particular Mouride dahira. The dahira's project illuminates important processes of forging global connections and transnational localities, and underscores the importance of understanding the complex motivations behind diaspora development. The hospital's history reveals the delicate negotiations between state actors and diaspora organizations, and the complexities of public–private partnerships for development. In a reversal of state withdrawal in the neo-liberal era, a diaspora association was able to wrest new financial commitments from the state by completing a large infrastructure project. Despite this success, we argue that these kinds of projects, which are by nature uneven and sporadic, reflect particular historical conjunctures and do not offer a panacea for the failure of state-led development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In complex sedimentary environments with different sources of the magnetic particles, it is vital that all factors contributing to and affecting the magnetic signals be well understood for a better constrained interpretation of palaeomagnetic and climatic data. Palaeoclimatically driven signals may be convolved with volcanic and cosmogenic sources, and diagenesis may alter the primary magnetic mineral assemblage. Rock magnetic methods and electron microscopy provide suitable means to characterize magnetic assemblages. In this study of core-retrieved sediments from the last 150 kyr off the coast of Senegal (NW Africa), the occurrence of magnetic spherules of volcanic origin and cosmogenic particles appeared to be insignificant. In glacial stages, ferrimagnetic iron and iron-titanium oxides magnetically dominate with few signs of a diagenetic overprint. Low- and room temperature magnetic results reveal evidence for haematite and goethite while haemoilmenite and titanomagnetite were identified from low-temperature AC susceptibility measurements and SEM observations. In contrast, the interglacial samples appeared to have been severely affected by diagenesis, with pyrite making up over 50 per cent of the iron-bearing phases. The Verwey transition observed at 110 K confirms the presence of magnetite. The glacial and interglacial contrast reveals the close link between northwest African climate and the magnetic mineralogy of the sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of an evaluation of the free delivery and caesarean policy (FDCP) in Senegal. The policy was introduced into five poor regions in 2005 and in 2006 was extended at regional hospital level to all regions apart from the capital (Dakar). The evaluation was carried out in 2006-7. There were four research components, all focused on selected facilities and districts within the five FDCP regions: a financial analysis of expenditure on the policy and wider health financing in the five regions and nationally; 54 key informant interviews from national down to facility level; 10 focus group discussions and 8 in-depth interviews; and analysis based on clinical record extraction of 761 major obstetric interventions. The evaluation found significant implementation difficulties, especially related to the allocation of funds and kits and the adequacy of their contents. Despite that, significant increases in utilization in normal deliveries (from 40% to 44% of expected deliveries in FDCP areas over 2004-5) and in caesarean rates (rising from 4.2% to 5.6% in FDCP areas) were recorded. National data suggested that these trends were not found in non-FDCP regions. Using the evaluation data, the cost per additional caesarean under the policy was US$467 and the cost per additional supervised normal delivery was US$21. The article concludes that, in order to achieve its full potential, the FDCP requires improved systems for planning and allocating resources, and new channels to reimburse lower level facilities. It is also important that all complicated deliveries (not just caesareans) are included in the package. In the case of Senegal, a complementary strategy of investment in facilities, transportation and staffing is required to bring greater geographical access and upgrade services. These findings are likely to be relevant to other countries currently experimenting with similar approaches to reducing financial barriers to skilled attendance at delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known in developing country environments about how a child's cognitive skills manifested in the first years of schooling are related to later educational success, because the panel data needed to analyze this question have been lacking. This study takes advantage of a unique data set from Senegal that combines test score data for children from the second grade with information on their subsequent school progression from a follow-up survey conducted seven years later. Measures of skills from early primary school, corrected for measurement error using multiple test observations per child, are strongly positively associated with later school progression. A plausible interpretation is that parents invest more in a child's education when the returns to doing so are higher. The results point to the need for remedial policies to target lagging students early on to reduce early dropout. Grade repetition policies target poorly performing students and are pervasive in Francophone Africa. Using variation across schools in test score thresholds for promotion to identify the effects of second-grade repetition, the analysis shows that repeating students are more likely to leave school before completing primary school than students with similar ability who are not held back, pointing to the need for alternative measures to improve the skills of lagging children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 1997, the merchants of Touba Mosquée, Senegal, revolted against new taxes introduced by the rural council to fund its development plan for the holy city of the Mouride brotherhood. Although citizens throughout the world have staged tax revolts, what made the events in Touba remarkable was their significant departure from the established pattern of state-society relations. While the introduction of the taxes suggests that some politicians are seeking to transform the clientelist relationship between state and society, resistance to the taxes reflects both a growing demand for political accountability and an unprecedented challenge to the authority of the Khalife-Général of Mouridism who designated Touba's councillors and authorized their project. Although the Khalife retained his role as arbitrator during the crisis, the tax revolt provided evidence that while local councils have not dramatically transformed political inequalities based on pre-existing social hierarchies, nor have they merely reproduced them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronicles the role of Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade on the conflict in the Casamance. History of the Casamance conflict; Crucial dynamics of the Casamance conflict; Wade's visit to Guinea-Bissau to address the Casamance issue; Political situation in Guinea-Bissau.

Examines the grand magal annual festival of the indigenous Senegalese Muslim brotherhood or religious order called Mourides in Touba, Senegal. Holding of a pilgrimage to the holy place of the brotherhood in Touba; Study of grand magal as an expression of the Mourides' popular culture and piety; Description of rituals which shape the celebration; Meaning of the festival.

Patterns of measles transmission at school and at home were studied in 1995 in a rural area of Senegal with a high level of vaccination coverage. Among 209 case children with a median age of 8 years, there were no deaths, although the case fatality ratio has previously been 6–7% in this area. Forty percent of the case children had been vaccinated against measles; the proportion of vaccinated children was higher among secondary cases (47%) than among index cases (33%) (prevalence ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.76). Vaccinated index cases may have been less infectious than unvaccinated index cases, since they produced fewer clinical cases among exposed children (relative risk = 0.55, 95% CI 0.29–1.04). The secondary attack rate was lower in the schools than in the homes (relative risk = 0.31, 95% CI 0.20–0.49). The school outbreaks were protracted, with 4–5 generations of cases being seen in the two larger schools. Vaccine efficacy was found to be 57% (95% CI −23 to 85) in the schools and 74% (95% CI 62–82) in the residential compounds. Measles infection resulted in a mean of 3.8 days of absenteeism per case, though this did not appear to have an impact on the children's grades. Among the index cases, 56% of children were probably infected by neighbors in the community, and 7% were probably infected at health centers, 13% outside the community, and 24% in one of the three schools which had outbreaks during the epidemic. However, most of the school-related cases occurred at the beginning and therefore contributed to the general propagation of the epidemic. To prevent school outbreaks, it may be necessary to require vaccination prior to school entry and to revaccinate children in individual schools upon detection of cases of measles. Multidose measles vaccination schedules will be necessary to control measles in developing countries. Am J Epidemiol 1999; 149: 295–301. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the role of the 1993 elections on the democratization of Senegal. Historical context of the elections; Incremental stages of democratization; Senegal's bi-polar political system; Results of the 1993 Presidential and Congressional elections; Comparison with the elections in 1983 and 1988.

Understanding the spatial distribution of fish schools is expected to enable future improvement in the reliability of acoustic abundance estimates as well as catch data. The analysis of echograms will provide detailed morphological descriptions of fish aggregations together with characteristics of their habitat. The data set studied here is a series of comparable echograms taken during monitoring surveys and showing important fluctuations in biomass. Echoes are coded into different consistent morphological types. First, we study how the occurrence of these types varies with diel cycle, sea-bottom depth, and fish density by computing a chi-square table. Second, characteristics of inter-school spatial structure are analysed by computing indicator variograms. Third, location of high-density values within the areas where schools are present is studied by computing indicator cross-variograms. A descriptive model of habitat occupation is proposed where some parameters are related to biomass level and others are not. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]